Fordingbridge 18 Petersfield 32: PETERSFIELD’S first team secured an important win over rivals Fordingbridge on Saturday to potentially take them closer to promotion from Snows Hampshire League 1.

Tom Franks, Josh Haslett, Fraser Patience with a brace and Harley Orr scored Petersfield’s tries.

Field and Fordingbridge have been leapfrogging each other for second place for most of the season as they chase leaders New Milton.

As Fordingbridge had no match the previous week, while Field were putting Farnborough to the sword, the Basingstoke side hold a match in hand over the red team which will not be closed out until Field’s final match of the season.

The visitors almost took the lead in the first five minutes, only to see their penalty attempt fly wide.

They continued to press and finally scored a converted try, followed by a more successful penalty.

The home side took full benefit from two penalties of their own towards the end of the first half, reducing their deficit to just four points.

After the restart, Field scored twice more to take the lead to an unassailable 27-6 before the home side pulled one back, cancelled out in quick order by Field’s fifth try of the match.

The visitors then allowed their hosts to score a second try, unconverted, in the final minute of the game.

The result means Field moved eight points ahead of Fordingbridge, effectively negating their game in hand.